VENTAVIS, Iloprost Form
Iloprost (Ventavis®) is a synthetic prostacyclin analog.
FDA Approved Indication(s)
Ventavis is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health
Organization [WHO] Group 1) to improve a composite endpoint consisting of exercise tolerance,
symptoms (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class), and lack of deterioration.
Studies establishing effectiveness included predominately patients with NYHA Functional Class
III-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (65%) or PAH associated with
connective tissue diseases (23%).
Policy/Criteria
Provider must submit documentation (such as office chart notes, lab results or other clinical
information) supporting that member has met all approval criteria.
It is the policy of health plans affiliated with Centene Corporation® that Ventavis is medically
necessary when the following criteria are met:
I. Initial Approval Criteria
A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (must meet all):
- Diagnosis of PAH;
- Prescribed by or in consultation with a cardiologist or pulmonologist;
- Failure of a calcium channel blocker (see Appendix B), unless member meets one of
the following (a or b):
a. Inadequate response or contraindication to acute vasodilator testing; b. Contraindication or clinically significant adverse effects to calcium channel blockers are experienced; - Dose does not exceed 45 mcg per day.
Approval duration:
Medicaid/HIM – 6 months
Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): Page 1 of 8
CLINICAL POLICY
Iloprost a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or- If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed
under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND
criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line
of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance
marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
II. Continued Therapy
A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (must meet all):
- Member meets one of the following (a or b): a. Currently receiving medication via Centene benefit or member has previously met initial approval criteria; b. Member is currently receiving medication and is enrolled in a state and product with continuity of care regulations (refer to state specific addendums for CC.PHARM.03A and CC.PHARM.03B);
- Member is responding positively to therapy;
- If request is for a dose increase, new dose does not exceed 45 mcg per day.
Approval duration:
Medicaid/HIM – 12 months Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
- If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
Page 2 of 8CLINICAL POLICY
Iloprost III. Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized:
A. Non-FDA approved indications, which are not addressed in this policy, unless there is sufficient documentation of efficacy and safety according to the off label use policies – CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid, or evidence of coverage documents. IV. Appendices/General Information Appendix A: Abbreviation/Acronym Key CTEPH: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension FC: functional class FDA: Food and Drug Administration
NYHA: New York Heart Association PA: physical activity PAH: pulmonary arterial hypertension PH: pulmonary hypertension WHO: World Health Organization Appendix B: Therapeutic Alternatives
This table provides a listing of preferred alternative therapy recommended in the approval criteria. The drugs listed here may not be a formulary agent and may require prior authorization.
Drug Name Dosing Regimen 60 mg PO QD; may increase to 120 to 240 mg/day 720 to 960 mg PO QD nifedipine (Adalat® CC, Procardia XL®) diltiazem (Dilacor XR®, Dilt-XR®, Cardizem® CD, Cartia XT®, Tiazac®, Taztia XT®, Cardizem® LA, Matzim® LA) amlodipine (Norvasc®) Therapeutic alternatives are listed as Brand name® (generic) when the drug is available by brand name only and generic (Brand name®) when the drug is available by both brand and generic. 20 to 30 mg PO QD 960 mg/day 30 mg/day Dose Limit/ Maximum Dose 240 mg/day Appendix C: Contraindications/Boxed Warnings None reported Appendix D: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO Classification • Group 1: PAH • Group 2: PH due to left heart disease • Group 3: PH due to lung disease and/or hypoxemia • Group 4: CTEPH • Group 5: PH due to unclear multifactorial mechanisms Page 3 of 8CLINICAL POLICY
Iloprost Monitoring for progression of PH and treatment of co- existing conditions Advanced treatment of PH with PH- targeted therapy- see Appendix
F
Appendix E: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO/NYHA Functional Classes (FC)
Treatment
Approach
Status at
Rest
FC
Heart
Failure
I
Comfortable
at rest
PA Limitations
Tolerance of
Physical
Activity
(PA)
No limitation Ordinary PA does not
cause undue dyspnea
or fatigue, chest pain,
or near syncope.
II
III
IV
Comfortable
at rest
Slight
limitation
Comfortable
at rest
Marked
limitation
Dyspnea or
fatigue may
be present at
rest
Inability to
carry out any
PA without
symptoms
Ordinary PA causes
undue dyspnea or
fatigue, chest pain, or
near syncope.
Less than ordinary PA
causes undue dyspnea
or fatigue, chest pain,
or near syncope.
Discomfort is
increased by any PA.
Signs of right heart failure PH supportive measures may include diuretics, oxygen therapy, anticoagulation, digoxin, exercise, pneumococcal vaccination. Advanced treatment options also include calcium channel blockers. Appendix F: Pulmonary Hypertension: Targeted Therapies Mechanism of Action Drug Subclass Drug Class Drug Brand/Generic Formulations Reduction of pulmonary arterial pressure through vasodilation Prostacyclin pathway agonist Prostacyclin Member of the prostanoid class of fatty acid derivatives. Synthetic prostacyclin analog Non-prostanoid prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) agonist Selective receptor antagonist Endothelin receptor Epoprostenol Veletri (IV) Flolan (IV) Flolan generic (IV) Treprostinil Orenitram (oral tablet) Remodulin (IV) Tyvasco (inhalation) Ventavis (inhalation) Uptravi (oral tablet) Iloprost Selexipag Ambrisentan Letairis (oral tablet) Page 4 of 8
CLINICAL POLICY
Iloprost Mechanism of Action Drug Class Drug Subclass Drug antagonist (ETRA) Nitric oxide- cyclic guanosine monophosphate enhancer Nonselective dual action receptor antagonist Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor Guanylate cyclase stimulant (sGC) Bosentan Macitentan Sildenafil Tadalafil Riociguat Brand/Generic Formulations Tracleer (oral tablet) Opsumit (oral tablet) Revatio (IV, oral tablet, oral suspension) Adcirca (oral tablet) Adempas (oral tablet) V. Dosage and Administration
Indication PAH Dosing Regimen 6 to 9 doses INH per day with at least 2 hours between doses; starting dose of 2.5 mcg, titrated to 5 mcg if well tolerated
Maximum Dose 45 mcg/day VI. Product Availability
Ampules: 10 mcg/mL, 20 mcg/mL VII.- see Appendix
F
Appendix E: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO/NYHA Functional Classes (FC)
Treatment
Approach
Status at
Rest
FC
Heart
Failure
I
Comfortable
at rest
PA Limitations
Tolerance of
Physical
Activity
(PA)
No limitation Ordinary PA does not
cause undue dyspnea
or fatigue, chest pain,
or near syncope.
II
III
IV
Comfortable
at rest
Slight
limitation
Comfortable
at rest
Marked
limitation
Dyspnea or
fatigue may
be present at
rest
Inability to
carry out any
PA without
symptoms
Ordinary PA causes
undue dyspnea or
fatigue, chest pain, or
near syncope.
Less than ordinary PA
causes undue dyspnea
or fatigue, chest pain,
or near syncope.
Discomfort is
increased by any PA.